Improvement in reversible filters



'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD O. HOUGHTONLLOF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF HISRliGHT FO J OTT GRANT, OF'SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN REVERSIBLE FILTERS.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,809, dated November12, 1878; application filed August 5, 1878.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD C; HoUGHToN, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefullm provements in Reversible Filters;

` and I do hereby declare that the followingis a reversible filters forcocks, faucets, Snc.; and

consists of a filter-box provided in each end with an externalscrew-thread, the upper end being screwed into a corresponding femalescrew-thread in the ordinary screw-coupling' at the terminus of thecock, faucet, or other cut-off. An ordinary nozzle is screwed over thelower screw-threaded end of` the filter-box. An internal annular flangeis made in either end of the filter-box. a short distance from itsextreme ends, which flange serves as a supportfor the strainer in eachend. Each strainer is held in position bymeans of a screwthreaded ringscrewed within an internal screw-threaded part of the filter-box. Thesescrew-rings are provided with notches or recesses, so as to enable theirbeing screwed in and out by means of a key for this purpose. Between thestrainer and the extreme end of the filter-box is made -in each end ofthe latter a chamber, soas to equalize the flow of the liquid. Thefiltering material is con tained directly within the filter-box, betweenthe upper and lower strainer, and in this manner a very simplecontrivance is obtained as compared with the reversible filters, inwhich a separate filter-box is employed in connection with an outershell or case. In casev the apparatus gets clogged up with impurities,the

lterbox can easily be reversed from its origip nal position simply byremoving the screwthreaded nozzle and detaching the iilter-box fromlitsscrew-coupling and attaching it to the latter in a reversed position,after which the nozzle is attached as at iirst.

My invention further relates to the combination, with a filter-box, asdescribed, of a screw-coupling provided with a sprinkler or perforateddiaphragm, located above the upper strainer in the filter-box, for thepurpose of relieving the pressure on the upper strainer of thefilter-box and dividing the solid column of water into a spray beforestriking the upper strainer or iilter-box, and thus preventing the waterfrom cutting a channel through `the filtering material. Y

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section ofmy improved reversible iilter with its screw-coupling and nozzle. Fig. 2represents a perspective view of one of the screw-threaded rings forsecuring the strainer in position. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view ofthe screw-couplin g with its sprinkler or .perforated diaphragm. Fig. 4p

represents a plan of said sprinkler or perforated diaphragm.

a is the screw-coupling, with its packings b and annular iiange c, asusual. d is the filterbox, provided with the annular iianges e e, uponwhich the strainers f fare supported,fas shown. g g are thescrew-threaded holdingrin gs for the' strainers, which rin gs arescrewed into female screw-threads cut in the ends of the filter-box d.g" g" are notches or recesses in the screw-rin gs g g', as and for thepurpose described. h h are the chambers between the strainers f f' andthe extreme ends of the filter-box d, as shown, and for the purpose setforthf t' t'! are external screw-threads on the outer ends of thefilter-box ql, tting within female screwthreads in the lower part of thescrew-coupling at and upper part of the nozzle k. l is a packing in thescrew-coupling a, between the annular projection c and the upper end ofthe lter-box d. Z' is a similar packingring between the lower end of thefilter-box and the annular projection 7c in nozzle lo. m

represents the filtering material contained within the filter-box dbetween the strainers Iii Figs. 3 and 4, n is the sprinkler, locatedwithin the screw-coupling, and secured therein,

What I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claim is Y 1 Theherein-described improved reversible filter, consisting of thefilter-box d, made alike in both ends, and containing the lteringmaterial m, and provided With annular internal flanges e e', strainers ff', screw-threaded rings g g', and chambers h h", substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with the filter-box d, its strainers f f', andfiltering material m, of the screw-coupling af, with its sprinkler orperforated diaphragm u, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I have axedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD C. HOUGHTON.

Witnesses:

ALBAN ANDRN, NATHL. EVANS.

